Argentina has shut down on Tuesday as the nation celebrates Lionel Messi and the men’s national team in their return from Qatar 2022, where they won the country’s third World Cup title and first since 1986.
December 20 was declared a national holiday in Argentina in time for the team to touch down at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires in the wee hours of the morning with thousands of people there to welcome them.
After a brief stop and rest at Argentina federation headquarters, the team will be heading on a bus to the famous Obelisco in Buenos Aires with millions expected.
The Sporting News will be covering the event and sharing highlights and the best moments as they happen further below (scroll down). First, here are three live streams by Argentine outlets Telefe, TNT Sports and La Nacion.
MORE: Why Argentina vs. France World Cup final was the greatest in history
Telefe live stream:
TNT Sports Argentina live stream:
La Nacion live stream:
Argentina World Cup celebration parade live coverage
1:30 p.m. ET: Rodrigo De Paul is getting carried away standing on top of the bus and you know who tells him to get down? Leo.
Me vuelvo loco cómo se ve a De Paul agitando y acto seguido, al enano dándole la orden de que baje onda papá. Maneja todo Lio. ¡Los amo muchachos! Que felices nos hicieron. pic.twitter.com/UKDVXNapaZ
— Gonzalo (@gonzamattarollo) December 20, 2022
1:22 p.m. ET: Part of you has to feel for the bus driver. This bus is doing the impossible by wedging itself through all these people.
Leo se dio vuelta para saludar a los hinchas y cumplió cientos de sueños en unos pocos segundos 🇦🇷🤩🏆 pic.twitter.com/hLNHYTla3k
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) December 20, 2022
As ESPN points out, you look into the distance and all you see is more and more people.
🏆🇦🇷 Más allá del horizonte, sigue habiendo gente…
El amor de un país rendido a los pies de los campeones de #Qatar2022.
IG: maikofpv pic.twitter.com/cqvVohXuoW
— ESPN Argentina (@ESPNArgentina) December 20, 2022
1:18 p.m. ET: It’s been a great day, but a long one. And the shirt has also come off head coach Lionel Scaloni.
— Out of Context Scaloneta (@OoCScaloneta_) December 20, 2022
1:10 p.m. ET: Enzo Fernandez couldn’t resist the mic. “Dale, campeon!”
🍾🍾🇦🇷🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/vq6dFFTR8R
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) December 20, 2022
1:03 p.m. ET: Of course, the ray of sun shining right down on Lionel Messi and the trophy.
El rayo del sol iluminando a Lionel Andrés Messi. Que cosa espectacular. pic.twitter.com/M5HrHQvrAA
— Facu López (@FaacuLopez__) December 20, 2022
12:58 p.m. ET: We saw the tires stolen from multiple cars earlier in this blog. Here’s someone taking advantage of the festivities to rob a motorcycle shop. Until he draws a bit too much attention to himself. Failed operation.
Delincuente en la fiesta pic.twitter.com/VZCdhf74Zk
— Juan Pablo Méndez (@juanpablodeole) December 20, 2022
12:52 p.m. ET: Per TyC Sports, the estimate on the fans in the streets has gone from four million to five million.
Subiendo… pic.twitter.com/erDugyRfkA
— Gustavo Flores (@Gusflores21) December 20, 2022
12:50 p.m. ET: It’s been a while, but we have a player bus sighting. It’s closing in on four hours on that thing for the players.
Avanza a paso lento el micro de la #SeleccionArgentina por Ricchieri. pic.twitter.com/OoDc2WQRzS
— Ricardo Fioravanti (@RFioravanti) December 20, 2022
12:46 p.m. ET: We know you were probably wondering: Where’s Dibu?
You’ll be cool but you’ll never be Dibu cool. pic.twitter.com/VnI45QUw6C
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) December 20, 2022
JSJAJAJA QUE HACÍA EL DIBU pic.twitter.com/8gKpqprQsk
— jessi ⭐⭐⭐ (@jessidp_97) December 20, 2022
12:44 p.m. ET: This fan will never forget his day at the top of the Obelisco in the largest ever mobilization and public demonstration in the history of Argentina.
CINE ABSOLUTO 🚬🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/LcXVncxI1z
— Fran (@frabigol) December 20, 2022
12:37 p.m. ET: Seen on the streets during the celebrations. The El Meneaito dance and, of course, a keepy-uppie challenge. Hey, you’ve got to entertain yourself somehow if you’re waiting for that player bus that might not ever pass.
🎶 Siempre hay tiempo para bailar el meniaito 😳
🙌 Somos el mejor país de todos 🇦🇷
📲 @JuanmaViera27 pic.twitter.com/agWAag7Wba
— D Sports Radio (@DSportsRadio) December 20, 2022
Disfrutalo. No trates de entenderlo. pic.twitter.com/wmfbkaNggO
— La Gorda Niembro ⭐⭐⭐ (@lagordaniembro) December 20, 2022
12:13 p.m. ET: Another street renaming. This one for Argentina star Enzo Fernandez, who won Young Player of the Tournament at the World Cup.
Las calles de San Martín, su barrio natal, ahora llevan el nombre de Enzo Fernández. pic.twitter.com/Nf5TdCq2re
— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) December 20, 2022
12:10 p.m. ET: The accidents keep piling up. We’ve already had two in this live blog. Here’s the latest. Again, a result of climbing up things. An urge that some have at these mass gatherings.
#MuñecoALaLona pic.twitter.com/lJrABXPj2i
— Martin Perazzo (@perazzomartin) December 20, 2022
12:04 p.m. ET: Can’t help but feel sorry for whomever decided to drive to the parade today:
ESTE DÍA QUEDARÁ EN LA HISTORIA DEL FÚTBOL MUNDIAL. 🇦🇷❤️pic.twitter.com/CrwtkaUOVh
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) December 20, 2022
12:01 p.m. ET: So did people actually break into the Obelisco? Is that how they ended up at the top of it?
La gente se mete en el Obelisco de Buenos Aires en pleno festejos de la Selección Argentina. pic.twitter.com/3IWrsN4Sz1
— Tomás Dvoretzky (@TomasDvoretzky) December 20, 2022
11:59 a.m. ET: Tee shirt toss from the top of the open-air player bus.
¡Locura por la Selección! ♥️🇦🇷
Y atención a Scaloni 🤪🤪 pic.twitter.com/OrJuOHXtZ4
— El Gráfico (@elgraficoweb) December 20, 2022
11:54 a.m. ET: Another incident involving people climbing on structures that are not meant to have people on top of them.
Martes feriado Nacional 🤦🏽♂️ pic.twitter.com/a8XHi3UqAD
— Martin Perazzo (@perazzomartin) December 19, 2022
11:51 a.m. ET: According to estimates shared by TyC Sports there are four million Argentines in the streets of Buenos Aires. BolaVip points out that’s nearly nine percent of the entire population OF THE COUNTRY.
🇦🇷 Según indica TyC Sports, hay 4 millones de personas movilizándose para festejar el campeonato mundial.
Ese número es el 8,89% de la población de Argentina 🤯 pic.twitter.com/oYEnmmdjkG
— Bolavip Argentina (@BolavipAr) December 20, 2022
Meanwhile, some places are saying number is at five million:
11:32 a.m. ET: Hope this guy’s alright. Be careful out there, people.
Terminator 7, la rebelión de las máquinas. pic.twitter.com/xNp8oJjQdn
— La Posta de RACING – FORO – (@leonelarielper1) December 20, 2022
11:25 a.m. ET: These fans are great. A supporter in a wheelchair gets hoisted above the sea of humanity.
No te lo puedo explicar, porque no vas a entender…pic.twitter.com/b5TgpdAFjz
— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) December 20, 2022
11:20 a.m. ET: We showed you a photo before, but here’s video of those people at the top of the Obelisco. Best view in the house. Though not sure they’ll be able to figure out who’s who on the bus.
#ESPNF90 | #ESPNQatarenStarPlus
¡LA LOCURA ES TOTAL!
Los hinchas argentinos festejan ¡HASTA ARRIBA DEL OBELISCO!
Mirá el programa, en vivo, por –> https://t.co/uFJThyGG2p pic.twitter.com/p6twnDF8FV
— ESPN Fútbol Argentina (@ESPNFutbolArg) December 20, 2022
11:12 a.m. ET: What’s happening on the highways is crazy. The team’s open-top bus has already been re-routed and it could happen again.
HISTÓRICO pic.twitter.com/TOCFvH92rY
— SIGA SIGA (@SigaSigaoficial) December 20, 2022
10:59 a.m. ET: Ok. Fans on Christmas trees, fans on top of the Obelisco, and now fans on highway signs. Completely normal behavior.
Siempre con precaución 👍 pic.twitter.com/dUERJEZqmr
— Bolavip Argentina (@BolavipAr) December 20, 2022
10:49 a.m. ET: He proposed … at the parade. And she said yes? She said yes.
Una hincha ha dicho que sí en el Obelisco. 💍🇦🇷💙 pic.twitter.com/dYk3j4kcae
— Natxo Torné (@groundhopperbcn) December 20, 2022
10:47 a.m. ET: This was apparently a highway.
El mejor país del mundo.
— Tomiconcina ⭐️⭐️⭐️🇦🇷 (@Tomiconcina1) December 20, 2022
La Autopista 25 de Mayo, totalmente desbordada de hinchas pic.twitter.com/tdjGta10Ap
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) December 20, 2022
Descontrol en la 25 de Mayo pic.twitter.com/svnjYaDreb
— Bolavip Argentina (@BolavipAr) December 20, 2022
10:43 a.m. ET: This fan has taken the liberty of renaming the street “Lionel Messi Avenue.”
Avenida Lionel Messi. pic.twitter.com/pYfFdU0A9l
— Teo Coquet (@TeoCoquet) December 20, 2022
La nuova Avenida Leo Messi è finalmente realtà! 😍pic.twitter.com/e5zPeZI9rx
— Calcio Argentino™ (@CalcioArg) December 20, 2022
10:36 a.m. ET: According to Diario Ole, these fans left their cars to go cheer the team as it left Ezeiza only to return and see they were missing one or more tires. Yep. they were stolen.
🚗 Dejaron los autos en la banquina para caminar hasta Ezeiza y alentar a la Selección…
Les robaron las ruedas 🤦♀️🙃 pic.twitter.com/UaB9bstm0e
— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) December 20, 2022
10:32 a.m. ET: Fans chasing the Argentina bus which is on the highway on its way to where the crowds are.
La gente corriendo al lado del micro para tener cerquita a los campeones del mundo, aunque sea 10 segundos. Cómo no iba a ser feriado hoy, hermano. El pueblo argentino merecía una alegría de estas para volver a unirse. Ganamos la Copa del Mundo. 🥹🇦🇷🏆pic.twitter.com/qPS5S199Dv
— Juampi Reynoso (@juampireynoso) December 20, 2022
10:28 a.m. ET: This reporter from TNT Sports shares the exact route with a return to the federation headquarters.
🗺 RECORRIDO
Ricchieri, General Paz, Lugones, Paseo del Bajo y 25 de Mayo con parada sobre 9 de Julio con vista al Obelisco.REGRESO AL PREDIO @afa
Desde 25 de Mayo por Dellepiane-Ricchieri pic.twitter.com/jzQ0p8KImd— Maximiliano Grillo 💚💜 (@maxigrillo) December 20, 2022
10:21 a.m. ET: From people on Christmas trees to two fans sticking out of the top of the Obelisco.
No, no está trucada ni es ciencia ficción. pic.twitter.com/OubJi3MJF3
— Gustavo Flores (@Gusflores21) December 20, 2022
10:13 a.m. ET: Messi’s enjoying every swig of this one. The “cafe con leche” reference is tongue in cheek in case you didn’t guess.
Café con leche para Lionel. Rodrigo y Ángel esperan con su tacita a mano. pic.twitter.com/H7RjbGJiEn
— Gustavo Medina (@GusMedina9) December 20, 2022
Sonrían, Messi les manda un saludo 👋 pic.twitter.com/AeK2hlprPl
— IP noticias (@_IPNoticias) December 20, 2022
10:09 a.m. ET: People hanging from Christmas trees just to get a glimpse.
Árbol de Navidad decorado de Argentinos? TENEMOS. pic.twitter.com/jiJxGSUSlW
— María Florencia 🇦🇷⭐⭐⭐ (@Flor_CGE) December 20, 2022
9:58 a.m. ET: Here’s the view from above as the bus makes its way through the streets of Buenos Aires.
AHORA – La Selección ARGENTINA salió del predio de AFA en Ezeiza e ingresa a la Autopista Riccheri rumbo a Capital Federal. pic.twitter.com/Mcf7ZkloX3
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) December 20, 2022
9:52 a.m. ET: The World Cup championship celebration tour in Buenos Aires is officially underway. We can’t quite make out the beverage in the hand of Leandro Paredes.
Comenzó el recorrido de los campeones del mundo 🇦🇷🏆. pic.twitter.com/ew4nJun19X
— Leandro Aguilera (@Tato_Aguilera) December 20, 2022
9:45 a.m. ET: It’s 11:45 a.m. local time in Buenos Aires and the party on the bus is already in full swing. Rodrigo De Paul leading the chorus.
Empezó la caravana más grande de la historia del fútbol. pic.twitter.com/Xi6aAFb40q
— Ataque Futbolero (@AtaqueFutbolero) December 20, 2022
9:00 a.m. ET: The team is ready to board the bus and make their way toward the Obelisco.
Buen día 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Npnl9mhMsE
— Marcos Javier Acuña (@AcunaMarcos17) December 20, 2022
8:45 a.m. ET: There’s already a massive expectant crowd on hand and the team is an hour away from arriving.
🔜😱🇦🇷 10:20 AM del día más esperado por todos los argentinos.
La manija es total en el Obelisco. #TyCSportsMundial pic.twitter.com/ERKJtIjBwl
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) December 20, 2022
8:05 a.m. ET: After plenty of speculation it’s now official that the team will not be passing by the Casa Rosada, home of the president of Argentina.
7:50 a.m. ET: The Ministry of Safety of Buenos Aires has indicated there won’t be a specific stage, stops or formal parade route, as a way to encourage fans to spread out as a massive crowd is expected to be concentrated at the Obelisco, where the team was reportedly set to arrive.
7:30 a.m. ET: Reports say that the team will be leaving federation headquarters between 10-10:30 a.m. ET and starting a celebratory tour that’s expected to last more than seven hours.
7:15 a.m. ET: Lionel Messi is finally up after what you imagine was another night with the trophy.
7:00 a.m. ET: It’ll be a historic day in Argentina with millions participating in the celebrations for the Argentina national team which will be making its way to the Obelisco in Buenos Aires in what is expected to be one of the greatest mass gatherings in the country as they celebrate the country’s third world title.
Here’s the video of their arrival in the early hours at the Buenos Aires airport:
